Snatch block



UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,235,302,";Q; p c.

N TQH BLOCK Crawford jK. Stillwagon, Houston, Tex.

Application-August 22, 1938,.Serial No. 228,118

"ZCIaims. (01.255193).

This invention relates to a snatch block: f

An object of the invention is to provide equipment of the characterdescribed embodying. a

frame and a sheave adapted to receive a cable.

and rotatably mounted in the frame, said frame having one of its sideplates hinged and latched with the corresponding end of the sheavespindle whereby upon release of the latch the hinged'side plate may beswung to open position to facilitate the mounting of the cable on, orits removal.

from, the sheave.

In the use of a block of this type it often becomes necessary, invarious situations; vto: apply.

the block to and remove it. from a cable. Sometimes the cable isattachedat one end to a load and at its other end to a winding drum andin order to apply a conventional snatch block to the cable under suchconditions it would be necessary to release the cable at one end andthread it through the snatch block and over the sheave thereof. With thetype of snatch block herein described the hinged side plate can bereleased and swung open and the block readily applied to the cable in anobvious manner and with little effort and delay.

The type of block herein described is particularly useful in connectionwith trucks for loading purposes, on drilling rigs in handling tongs orother light loads about the rig although it is capable of general use.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 shows aside elevational view of the block.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal, sectional view showing the hinged sideplate latched in closed position.

Figure 3 shows a similar view showing the hinged side plate in openposition, and" Figure 4 shows an enlarged, longitudinal sectional View.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals ofreference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral Idesignates one of the side plates of the frame. This side plate isapproximately elliptical in form and is composed of one piece. The otherside plate is of approximately the same contour as the plate I but isformed of two sections 2, 3 which are hinged together on the transversepin 4. Between the stationary section 2 and the plate I there is aswivel block'5 having the end spindles 6, 6 which extend through alignedbearings of the respective plates and whose outer ends are threaded toreceive the nuts I, I. The block 5 accordingly may swivel with respectto the frame. The block 5 has a bearing 8 therethrough to receive theshank 9 of the hook Ill. The inner end of the shank of the hook isthreaded to receive a retaining nut I I thereon whereby the hook I0 mayalso swivel relative to the block 5.

It is to be noted that the outer threaded ends of the spindle 6 arereduced forming shoulders against which the nuts! abut when the nuts arescrewed home so that the plates will be retained between the block 5 andthe nuts I without binding so as to prevent the free turning movement of;th e;block.

There is a sheavespindle I2, one endoi which is reduced and. fittedthrough a hole I3 and the plate I. The reduction of said end forms ashoulder which seats against the inside of plate I as shown in Figures 2and 3. Said reduced end is threaded to receive the retaining nut I4which clamps the plate I between said nut and the shoulder of saidspindle. At its other end the spindle is reduced and fitted through thehole I5 of the plate section 3, the reduction forming an inside shoulderof the spindle which fits against the inside of the plate section 3.This last mentioned end of the spindle I2 has an external, annular ribI6 therearound and a. sleeve I1 is driven into the sheave and surroundssaid spindle and one end of which abuts the inner side of the plate Iand the other end of which abuts the inner side of the ribs I6 wherebyto prevent the sheave I8, mounted on said spindle, from becoming tightlyclamped between the side plates, to the end that the sheave will also befree to turn.

The rib I6 also prevents displacement of the sheave from the spindlewhen the hinged section 3 is swung open. Suitably secured to the outerside of the section 3 and in alignment with the bearing I5 there is alatch retainer l9. It may be welded or otherwise secured to the outerside of has an oblong slot 24 wherein is seated a strong coil spring 25one end of which bears against the outer end of the slot 24 and whoseother end rests against a washer 250 which, in turn, rests against a pin2511 which is fitted through the retainer and into the section 3 asshown in Figure 4. The latch is thereby held yieldingly outwardly. Theend of the latch opposite the notch 2| extends beyond the retainer I 9and countersunk therein there is a transverse grip member 26 whichextends each way beyond the latch and which is secured therein by theset screws 21, 21. Normally the notched end of the latch will engagebehind the enlarged end 23 of the sheave spindle and will be held insuch engagement by the pres sure of the spring 25.

If it be now desired to remove a cable from, or

place the cable around, the sheave IS, the grip member 26 may be graspedand the latch released a and the section 3 swung outwardly as shown inFigure 3 for the purpose intended.

When the cable has been mounted on the sheave the hinged section 3 maybe then swung intoclosed position and the notched end of the latch willengage the beveled outer end 23 of the sheave spindle and the latch willbe automatically retracted and upon its registration with the reducedportion 22 the spring 25 will urge the latch into engaged positionbehind the enlarged portion 23 of said spindle thus retaining the cablein place.

What I claim is:

1. A snatch block comprising a frame composed of approximately parallelthin side plates. ;one of which is formed of a fixed section and ahinged section and the other being unitary, a

swiveling block bolted to and between said unitary plate and the fixedsection of the other plate, a hook having a swiveling connection withsaid swiveling block, a sheave spindle having extended ends one endbeing supported by and connected to said unitary plate by a nut on saidend, the other end of said spindle being supported by the hinged sectionof the other plate by the other extended end, a bearing sleeve on thespindle, a sheave fitting tightly on the bearing sleeve betweentheplates, means for retaining the sleeve on the spindle, means formaintaining the hinged section in said supporting relation with thecorresponding extended end of the spindle.

2. A snatch block comprising a frame composed of approximately parallelside plates one of which is formed of a fixed section and a hingedsection and the other of which is unitary, a swivel block mounted torotate on a transverse axis between the unitary plate and the fixedsection of the other plate, a hook having a swiveling connection withsaid block, a sheave spindle having one end reduced forming an annularshoulder, the reduced end being fitted through a bearing in theunitaryplate and said shoulder bearing against said plate, a clamp nutthreaded on to said reduced end and clamping said plate between it andsaid shoulder, an annular rib on the spindle, a bearing sleeve aroundthe spindle one end of which abuts said unitary plate and the other endof which abuts said rib whereby the sleeve is retaine'd 'on the spindle,a sheave mounted on said bearing sleeve and extending over said rib, theother end of the spindle, beyond said rib, being reduced, said hingedsection being formed with a hole to receive said last mentioned end whensaid hinged section of the plate is brought into parallel relation withsaid unitary plate, and means for detachablyvsecuring said hingedsection in said last named position.

CRAWFORD K. STILLWAGON.

